Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-04
MAINE LEGISLATURE,
SENATE.
THURSDAY, March 5.

Mr.. Sleeper of Androscoggin gave notice
that in consequence of some revelations mad,
to the Joint Special Committee to inquire in
10 the expediency of repeating the charters OF
the Maine Branch of the Druidic University
and the Maine Eclectic College, he would, on
Monday next, IN accordance with Joint rule
No. IA, introduce a bill embodying the sub
Ject matter of the so called medical registra
ton law referred by the last to the presen,
| legislature.
The President announced that both branch.
es of the legislature had accepted and ap
proved the official bond of the Treasurer o,
State.
On motion of Mr.. Heath of Kennebec a
message was sent to the Governor requesting
the return of bill an act to incorporate the
Eastern Trust and Banking Co. and
bill an act to incorporate the Merchants
Trust and Banking Company. The bills
were returned and on motion of the same
gentleman the votes passing them to be en-
acted and engrossed were re-consldered
| They were then laid on the table,
Mr.. Cole presented the remonstrance of
Rose {. Shay and "a others, women of Bridg-
ton, against any law in respect to hours of
labor discriminating between men and
women, and asking that equal rights may be
preserved to each in all respects thereto.
Referred TO the Committee on Labor.
Mr.. Lord presented the remonstrance of
Mary Z. Snow and Is other female operatives
of Dexter Woolen Mills against the passage
of any labor law that shall discriminate
against women, which was referred to the
Committee or Labor.
Mr. Young of Oxford presented the petit
ton of Clara Pattie and l3 others of Kezer
Falls against discriminating between men and
/ tnf l.L. \
on the table.
| Resolve relating to the reward offered for
the arrest and delivery into custody of Calvin
P. Graves and James n Mcfarland came
from the House passed to be engrossed and
on motion Of Mr.. Libbey of Penobscot the
rules were suspended and the resolve was
given its two several readings. Pending its
passage to be engrossed, it was laid on the
table on motion of Mr.. Heath of Kennebec
Resolve in favor of the Railroad Com
missioners of the State of Maine came from
the House passed to be engrossed and was
passed to be engrossed in concurrence under
q suspension of the rule, on motion OF MIR
Sleeper of Androscoggin.
| Resolve in favor of d. L. Field and A r.
Devereux came from the House indefinitely
postponed and was indefinitely postponed in
concurrence.
Mr.. Weymouth, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported legislation inexpedienl
on order relating TO taxation of vessel prop
| erty.
Mr.. Cole, from the Committee on Lega
Affairs, on petition, reported bill an act tc
make valid the organization of the Orthodox
Congregational Society of Sebago Lake
which was passed to be engrossed under s
suspension of the rule, on motion of MIR.
Cole.
Mr.. Flint, from the Committee on Agricul
ture, reported ought to pass on bill an act tC
provide for the collection OF statistics re
lating to the forests of the State, which wa
laid on the table to be printed under ths
rule.
Mr.. Libbey, from the Committee on Finan
cial Affairs, reported in a new draft and
ought to pass on resolve in favor of the
Maine State College of Agriculture anC
Mechanic Arts, which was laid on the table
to be printed under the rule.
Mr.. Gilbert, from the Committee on Rail
roads, Telegraphs, and Expresses, reported
legislation inexpedient on order relating Il
the expediency of amending the laws relating
to telegraphs so as to secure more effcen
service.
Mr.. Lumbert, from the Committee on tht
judiciary, on order, reported bill an act re
tonal and State elections, which was laid OF
the table to be printed under the rule.
Mr.. Hill from the Committee on Railroads
Telegraphs and Expr5 sses, reported ought tt
pass on bill an act to amend chap. 267 of tht
special laws of 1880, relating to the Bridgtor
and Presumpscot Railroad, which was reaC
and assigned.
Resolve concerning an amendment TO the
constitution of the State relative to the eligi
bility of the Treasurer of State came up or
its first reading. and was passed to be en-
crossed under a suspension OF the rule, or
motion of Mr.. Libbey Of Penobscot-
Bill an act to amend sec. chap. l27 o.
the revised statutes, relating to malicious mis-
chief, came up on its passage to be engrossed
The House amendment was adopted and the
bill laid on the table on motion of Mr.. Good
now of Washington.
Bill an act to divide the town Of Pittstor
and incorporate the town of West Pittstor
came from the House passed to be engrossed
and on motion of Mr.. Allen of Knox it wal
passed to be engrossed in concurrence unde
a suspension of the rule.
The majority and minority reports of thu
Committee on Labor on the bill to regulate
the hours of labor. came up at 10. 80 by spec
ial assignment, and Mr.. Heath of Kennebe'
NOV ed that the minority report marked "B,
1.-THE Heath Bill be substituted for the repor
of the majority.
Mr. Heath took the floor, occupying it al
hour and half in support Of his motion
He began by a review of the labor agitation
which compelled both political parties t.
pledge themselves to give the people tn
labor legislation which they demanded. III
quoted from the press of the State the plat
form of the two great political parties and th'
, utterances of various public men, including
Governor Bodwell. to show that it was
|, general law that was intended, one applying
TO men, women and children, and contendet
thas this was the sentiment of the people II
1886 Down to the September election M
editorials could be found taking the groun'
that such law would be unconstitutional
, but after the meeting of the legislature edi
torials appeared day after day claiming ths
if the so-called Heath bill passed it would b.
overturned by the court because unconstitu
tional. He then proceeded to argue the con
stitutionalitv of such legislation, quoting il
!. support of his position from numerous au
thorities in this country and England. Ill
submitted that there could be no earthly doub
about the constitutionslity of the bill reporte'
by the minority, and that the measure he ad
vocsted was but writing out in the techDica
language of the law the crystalized publ
sentiment of 1886. He recognized no politi
cal necessity that should drive the legislator
, into position where one must say to tn
other, privately or publicly, that some ten
hour law must be passed. Better no law
all than a bad one. There are ten-hour law
, that are honest; there are ten-hour laws tina